Mar. 14, 2014
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by Nate Davis, USATODAY

by Nate Davis, USATODAY

Free agency has been a happy new (league) year for many NFL stars, but others are now making resolutions as bargain hunting on the secondary market has begun.

Steve Smith became the latest veteran looking for work before his contract expired. He didn't wait long to take a swipe at the Carolina Panthers, who employed the volatile receiver for 13 seasons, during a radio interview after his release Thursday.

"I want to make sure that whatever team I go to, they're going to get the best, in shape 35-year-old guy they can get," Smith told WFNZ in Charlotte. "If that happens to run through Bank of America Stadium, put your goggles on, because there's going to be blood and guts everywhere."

But the market can be cruel. Offensive lineman Rodger Saffold, who saw his $42.5 million windfall take a hit after the Oakland Raiders flunked him on a physical Wednesday, found that out while returning to the St.Louis Rams on Thursday for $11million less than what the Silver & Black had pledged to pay.

"Rodger is happy to be back here considering what went down there - what a crazy experience," Saffold's agent, Alan Herman, told USA TODAY Sports on Thursday. "It was painful. Let's put it that way."

WHO'S LEFT?

The blue-chippers have mostly cashed in with loads of fresh greenbacks. Cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie leads a dwindling list of players young enough and talented enough to command a substantial deal. Defensive tackle Henry Melton and wideouts Hakeem Nicks, Julian Edelman and James Jones are other unsigned, big-name players.

But expect them to be joined by others whose unwieldy contracts and declining play will almost surely force their teams to cut ties. Running back Chris Johnson, who has expressed no willingness to take a pay cut from the Tennessee Titans, is in that group along with Matt Schaub (Houston Texans) and Mark Sanchez (New York Jets), who could give Michael Vick competition in a thin quarterback pool.

DRAFT IMPACT

Saffold's return provides added flexibility to the Rams, who own the draft's second and 13th overall picks. St. Louis seemed a logical destination for an elite tackle prospect, but Saffold's versatility gives them added freedom to explore a trade, consider Clemson receiver Sammy Watkins or maybe even South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney.

The Jacksonville Jaguars, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Minnesota Vikings - all with questions at quarterback but owning one of the first eight choices - each signed a veteran passer in the past week. That might mean incoming quarterbacks such as Teddy Bridgewater and Johnny Manziel could be on the board longer than they initially expected.

Recent moves are bound to have other ripple effects, especially at the top of the draft.

The Saffold fiasco and departure of Jared Veldheer to the Arizona Cardinals leaves the Raiders searching for a left tackle.

The Atlanta Falcons' signings of defensive linemen comfortable in the 3-4 scheme means they could now better accommodate an elite college player such as Buffalo linebacker Khalil Mack, who appears tailor-made for the system.

WHO MIGHT SPEND

The Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts, Jaguars and Buccaneers have been among the most active teams so far.

The reversal on Saffold means the Raiders, who entered free agency with roughly $60 million in available cap space, have a lot more work to do even after landing defensive end Justin Tuck and offensive tackle Austin Howard.

Other teams with still-robust budgets include the Cincinnati Bengals and Green Bay Packers - teams that rarely spend on outside free agents and usually focus on rewarding their own players - as well as the Vikings, Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles.

WHAT WE LEARNED

The term "quarterback-driven league" has become cliché in the NFL.

But because of the dearth of elite passers, free agency has focused teams on protecting their quarterbacks while game-planning for opposing ones.

Left tackles Branden Albert, Eugene Monroe, Veldheer and even Saffold were compensated in the early hours of free agency.

Defensively, pass rushers such as DeMarcus Ware, Everson Griffen and Bennett earned premium deals, while new New Orleans Saints safety Jairus Byrd and several cornerbacks were garnering contracts that came close to $10million annually.

Yet the playmakers that quarterbacks need have encountered a soft market.

The New York Jets signed Eric Decker, the top receiver available, to a five-year, $36.25 million deal three years after they gave recently released Santonio Holmes a five-year pact worth nearly $15 million more.

Running backs LeGarrette Blount, Maurice Jones-Drew, Knowshon Moreno and Ben Tate are still waiting to learn who their new teammates will be while Darren McFadden, Toby Gerhart and Darren Sproles found out their position really isn't all that valuable, at least financially.

THE LANDSCAPE

From a personnel standpoint, the rich have gotten richer, especially in the AFC where division winners such as the Broncos, Colts and New England Patriots made significant upgrades.

The NFC powerhouse Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers re-signed core players Bennett and Anquan Boldin, respectively, while leaving themselves room to do major extensions for other in-house stars.

But the Eagles - who traded for speed back Sproles on Thursday - Saints, Bears and Cardinals have signed players who could make them threats.

At the end of the day, everyone is looking to get paid but also wants to win.

"I told my agent I didn't want to go to a team just to receive a lot of money," said defensive end Arthur Jones, who got $33 million over five years from the Colts.

"I'll tell you, I want every player in the NFL to experience that confetti falling. That's the reason why we play the game: to win championships."